Electrical switch and actuator apparatus



18, 1964 R. F. GILDART ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND ACTUATOR APPARATUSINVENTOR. RICHARD E GILDART 64 dim/m} K 40} g ATTORNEYS.

Ff nled March 30, 1962 mum. I K.

FIG. 4

United States Patent M 3,145,275 ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND ACTUATORAPPARATUS Richard F. Gildart, Montebello, Calif., assignor to RehrigPacific Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California FiledMar. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 183,822 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.41)

This invention relates to electrical switches and actuating apparatusand, more particularly, to an electrical switch and actuating apparatusfor controlling the operation of a machine having a repeating cycle ofoperations.

It is an object of this invention to provide an electrical switch andactuator having a plurality of switch elements which are actuated duringthe normal cycling operation of a machine in a set sequence with some ofsaid switches being actuated at difierent times and for differentperiods of time during the cycling of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical switchwhich is adaptable to several different modes of operation without anystructural changes thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a timing switch forcontrolling the operation of a machine having a fixed cycle ofoperations.

The invention features an actuator member movable along a guided path intimed relation with the operation of the machine. The actuator memberhas formed thereon a plurality of levels each level corresponding to aselected portion of the cycle of the operation of the machine with someof the levels being of greater extent than the others. A spring biasedswitch follower member, controlled by the actuator member opens and/orcloses spring biased contact elements according to the position of theactuator member. The contact elements are limited in the extent of theirmovement so that while some of the contact elements may follow themovement of the follower in every respect, some of the contact elementsonly follow the movement of the follower member a limited extent so thatcertain of the switch elements may be opened and/or closed while certainof the other switch elements may be closed and/ or opened.

A further feature of the invention includes means for shifting theinitial position of the follower member with respect to the actuatingmember so that at least one of said switch elements is closed during allmovements of said actuator member.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a structure incorporating the inventionwith a portionof the dust cover removed; 7

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG.1; and

FIGS. 3-6 are enlarged views of the top portion of the actuator memberand the folower member and associated contacts at the differentpositions of actuation thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, a switch and actuator assembly incorporating theinvention comprises a cast metal frame member 10 having a plungeractuator 11 reciprocably guided in the frame 10 and actuated by amovable part on the machine 12. Spring biased follower member 13actuated by plunger actuator 11 couples to contact elements 14 theposition of the machine part 12 through the plunger actuator 11. Certainof the contact elements 14 are coupled by conductors to terminals 19 and20 which lead to a control circuit which may control the operation ofthe machine which includes part 12. An

3,145,275 Patented Aug. 18, 1964' L-shaped dust cover 16 having asealing gasket 17 is secured to the frame 10 by screws 18.

Frame 10 has formed therein a chamber 21 for housing switch structure14, actuator 11 and follower member 13. A bore 22 formed in wall 23 ofchamber 21 receives an end of plunger 11 for guiding the movementthereof. The end 24 of plunger 11 has a projection 26 ofreducedcross-section to form a shoulder 28 on which spring 29 in the bore 22acts to plunger 11 in a downward direction so as to maintain constantabutment of the lower end 30 of plunger 11 with machine part 12. Thelower end of plunger 11 is guided by a bush member 31 in wall 32 ofchamber 21. A stop washer 33 frictionally secured in a groove in theplunger 11 limits the downward movement ofthe plunger 11.

The switch structure 13 is mounted on the sloping wall 34 of chamber 21by machine screws 36. A portion of the outside wall of chamber 21 isremoved as at 36 to allow access to screws 36. i

As best seen in FIG. 3, the switch elements 14 are mounted in asandwich-type arrangement with individual blocks of insulationseparating the conducting elements of the switch. Thus, insulatingblocks 37, 38, 39 and 40 insulate spring contact carriers 41, 42, 43 and44, respectively, from each other. Each insulation block 37-40 and eachspring contact carriers 41, 42 and 43 as well as relatively rigidmembers 46 and 47 have aligned holes therein which holes have a diameterconsiderably larger than the diameter of screw 36. Tubular insulatinginsert 43 having an outside diameter equal to the diameter of thealigned holes in each of the insulating blocks and the contact carrierstrips is force fitted therein so that insulating blocks, 37, 38, 39 and40, contact carriers 41, 42 and 43, and stiffening members 46 and 47 arefrictionally retained in assembly. Contact and follower carrier member44 is spaced from wall 34 by a conducting metallic insert so that thereis a conductive path between the element 44 and the frame member 10. Inthis arrangement, element 44 may be referred to as a round contactcarrier. A pair of rivet-type contact buttons 49 and 50 secure rolleryoke plate 51 to the free end of carrier member 44. A pair of yoke arms52 (only one shown) turned down from each side of yoke plate 51 supportroller follower member 53 which may be of nylon or Teflon construction.

Associated with contact carrier 43 and an electrical contact therewithis a stop bar or member 47 which limits the inward travel of contactcarrier 43 so that the contact button 54 carried at the end 'of contactcarrier 43 for cooperation with contact button 49 does not follow themovement of follower member 13 during all of its course of movement butis limited to a selected portion thereof. Likewise, stop member 46,sandwiched between insulating blocks 38 and 39 with contact carrier 42limits the outward movement of contact carrier 42 and, the inwardmovement of contact carrier 4.

Contact carrier 42 has a single contact 56 carried on the end thereofwhile contact carrier 41 has two contact buttons 57 and '58. Contactbutton 57 makes electrical contact, according to the position ofactuator member 11, with contact element 56, while contact button 58 iscarried on an offset portion 59 of carrier member 41 to cooperate withcontact button 50 on carrier 44. It will be appreciated that the variouscontact elements mentioned above are opened and closed from time to timefor varying periods of time. This is accomplished through the actuatingplunger 11. Actuator plunger 11 is shown as having a series of sectionsof reduced cross-sectional area, 60, 61 and 62, While the upper andlower ends, 24 and 64, respectively, have the same diameter. When thefollower roller 53 is riding on portion 24 of actuator 11 contact button54 makes electrical contact with contact button 49 and, at the sametime, contact button 58 makes electrical contact with contact rivet 50so that both contact carriers 41 and 43 are electrically connected tothe frame through contact carrier 44 and plate 45. It will be notedhowever that member 46 prevents contact carrier 42 from moving in anoutward direction so that there is an open circuit between contactbutton 57 and contact element 56.

When follower roller 53 is riding on portion 60 of actuator member 11,electrical contact is made between contact buttons 54, 57 and 58 withcontact members 49, 56 and 50, respectively. Thus, the outercontactcarrier members 41, 42, and 43 are connected to ground throughtheir respective contact buttons and contact carrier 44.

As shown in FIG. 5, when follower roller 53 is riding on portion 61 ofactuator 11, stop member 47 prevents the inward travel of contact button54 with the follower member so that there is no electrical connectionbetween contact carrier 43 and the frame 10 of the switch.

In FIG. 6, follower roller 53 is shown riding on portion 62 of actuatorplunger 11. In this condition, only contact button 57 makes electricalcontact with contact element 56. However, since only contact carriers 42and 43 are connected through connections to terminals 19 and 20,respectively, to the control circuit which is conditioned by the switch,this connection is of no effect. It will be noted that bar member 45 inconjunction with spring contact carrier 42 prevents the inward travel ofcontact button 58 so that this contact button does not follow themovement of contact element 50 as carrier element 44 moves with thefollower mechanism 13.

As noted earlier, contact carrier 44 is electrically con nected to theframe 10 through metal bar 45. Thus, unless one of contact buttons 54 or58 is in electrical contact with contact members 49 and 50 so thatcontact carriers 41 and 43 are effectively removed from the groundconnection through carrier .4. Wires 66 and 67 connect contact carriers42 and 43 to terminals 68 and 69, respectively, of output jacks 19 and20, respectively. The outer members 70 and 71 of terminals 19 and makeelectrical connection with the frame 10 and are secured thereto by locknuts 72 and 73, respectively.

When used with the circuit shown in application Serial No. 182,549,filed March 26, 1962, of Harold A. Maclntosh, the switch and actuatordescribed herein is a conditioning and control device, which, inconjunction with a detector switch (not shown), controls the cycle ofoperation of a machine having a repeating cycle of operation on failureof completion of a cycle of the machine. For example, the detectorswitch referred to above may be actuated by the passage of a workproduct either into or out of the machine. If such actuation of thedetector switch occurs during the period of time which follower member13 is riding on portion 60 of actuator member 11, and during the timeperiod when contact buttons 54, 57 and 58 are in electrical contact withcontact members 49, 56 and 50, respectively (as shown in FIG. 4), thecircuit controlled by the switching elements 14 is conditioned for asubsequent operation of the machine with which part 14 is associated.

As more fully explained in the aforementioned application of Harold A.MacIntosh, Serial No. 182,549, there are two general types of clutchmechanisms in use with repeating machines, for example clutch pressesand the like. As noted in that patent application, the first type ofclutch mechanism is a so-called dog-type clutch which relies oninterference and clearance of the clutch dogs for engagement anddisengagement of the clutch. In this type of clutch mechanism, theclutch is effective to stop the ram stroke at the uppermost or topposition. The condition of the switch of this invention corresponding tothe top of the up stroke of the machine part 12 is shown in FIG. 6wherein contact carrier members 42 43 are ungrounded. Specifically,contact button 58 is effectively disengaged from contact button 50 sothat terminal 69 of jack 20 is likewise ungrounded. Thus, contact button58 and contact element St! function as a limit switch for controllingthe movement of machine part 12.

The second type of clutch mechanism referred to in the aforementionedMacIntosh application is a so-called air clutch in which the machinewith which the clutch is associated may be stopped in any positionthroughout its cycle so that the limit switch formed by contact button58 and contact element 50 is not needed in this application. As shown inFIG. 1, the frame 10 has a projecting mounting flange 72 with boltingslots 73 and 74. A pair of indicia marks 75 and 77 on the lower end of64 of actuator plunger 11 are spaced on a distance d apart which issubstantially equal to the length of reduced section 62 of actuator rod11. Part 12 of the machine to which frame 10 is to be secured is movedto the topmost position of the stroke so that the switch elements are inthe condition shown in FIG. 6 and both indicia lines 76 and 77 arevisible below bushing 33. Then, the bolts passing through slots 73 and'74, respectively, may be loosened so that the frame It may be loweredto where only indicia mark 76 is visible below bush 33. In thiscondition the electrical connection between contact button 58 andcontact element 50 is never broken so that the clutch mechanism (airclutch) may be actuated during any time during the cycle of theoperation of the machine.

It will be appreciated that the metal contact bar 45 between cotactcarrier 44 and the frame 10 may be replaced with an insulating bar sothat instead of grounding the terminals 68 and 69, these terminals maybe connected to other circuit means.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, itwill be appreciated that numerous modifications and changes may be madethereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordinglyit is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A switch structure comprising a frame member having the guide boretherein,

an actuator plunger reciprocable in said bore,

and a spring member in said bore biasing said plunger outwardlytherefrom,

a plurality of stepped surfaces, more than two, formed on said plunger,

a plurality of resilient contact carriers mounted in a sandwichstructure with intervening insulating inserts between the contactcarriers, said sandwich structure being mounted on said frame member,

a follower member formed on one of said resilient contact carriers andin constant engagement with said plunger and moved thereby by theengagement of said follower with a different one of said steppedsurfaces,

means between selected ones of said contact carriers intermediate theend ones for limiting the movement of said intermediate contact carriersrelative to the movement of the other of said contact carriers, saidmeans being effective to limit the movement of at least one of saidcontact carriers in one direction and at least another of said contactcarriers in an opposite direction, said stepped surfaces being of adifferent extent along the longitudinal dimension of said plunger,

and electrical contacts on said contact carriers.

2. The switch defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of resilientcontact carriers mounted in a sandwich structure includes a firstcontact carrier secured to and adjacent said frame, said follower meanscoupling the movement of said actuator to said first contact carrier,

a plurality of said second contact carriers, and means biasing saidcontact carriers such that the References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller Dec. 19, 1939 Parkhurst Jan. 31,1950 Zuckerman Apr. 14, 1953 Glaze Feb. 2, 1954 Grandstaff Apr. 17, 1956Woods et a1 May 29, 1956 Towle Feb. 4, 1958 Bernstein Sept. 1, 1959Seele Dec. 8, 1959 Teutsch Sept. 4, 1962

1. A SWITCH STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FRAME MEMBER HAVING THE GUIDE BORETHEREIN, AN ACTUATOR PLUNGER RECIPROCABLE IN SAID BORE, AND A SPRINGMEMBER IN SAID BORE BIASING SAID PLUNGER OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, APLURALITY OF STEPPED SURFACES, MORE THAN TWO, FORMED ON SAID PLUNGER, APLURALITY OF RESILIENT CONTACT CARRIERS MOUNTED IN A SANDWICH STRUCTUREWITH INTERVENING INSULATING INSERTS BETWEEN THE CONTACT CARRIERS, SAIDSANDWICH STRUCTURE BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEMBER, A FOLLOWER MEMBERFORMED ON ONE OF SAID RESILIENT CONTACT CARRIERS AND IN CONSTANTENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLUNGER AND MOVED THEREBY BY THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAIDFOLLOWER WITH A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID STEPPED SURFACES, MEANS BETWEENSELECTED ONES OF SAID CONTACT CARRIERS INTERMEDIATE THE END ONES FORLIMITING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID INTERMEDIATE CONTACT CARRIERS RELATIVE TOTHE MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER OF SAID CONTACT CARRIERS, SAID MEANS BEINGEFFECTIVE TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONTACT CARRIERSIN ONE DIRECTION AND AT LEAST ANOTHER OF SAID CONTACT CARRIERS IN ANOPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAID STEPPED SURFACES BEING OF A DIFFERENT EXTENTALONG THE LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION OF SAID PLUNGER, AND ELECTRICALCONTACTS ON SAID CONTACT CARRIERS.